THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL OWNERSHIP ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

Yıl 2012, Cilt: 4 Sayı: 2, 171 - 185, 01.12.2012

Turhan Erkmen Emel Esen

Öz

Psychological ownership reflects an individual’s awareness, thoughts, and beliefs
regarding the target of ownership (Avey et al, 2009). Locus of control defined as
the general belief that individual’s successes, failures and outcomes are controlled
by individual’s actions and behaviors (internal); or perhaps, people’s
achievements, failures and outcomes are controlled by other forces like chance,
luck and fate (external) (Rotter, 1966). Individuals with high internal locus of
control experience higher levels of psychological ownership. Organizational
commitment can be defined as a strong belief in and acceptance of an
organization’s goals and values, a willingness to exert considerable effort on
behalf of the organization, and a strong desire to maintain membership in the
organization (Allen and Meyer, 1990). Scholars examined the link between
psychological ownership of the organization and positive employee attitudes as
organizational commitment.
The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of psychological
ownership on the relationship between internal locus of control and organizational
commitment. Allen and Meyer’s (1990) organizational commitment scale,
Rotter’s (1966) locus of control scale and Avey and his colleagues’ (2009)
psychological ownership scale were used to collect data for the study. The
findings of this study is valuable from many aspects that psychological ownership
is a new area in organizational behavior literature and this study indicates
antecedent’s and consequence’s of psychological ownership in information
technology sector.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Psychological ownership, Internal locus of control, Organizational commitment, Information technology sector

Kaynakça

• Allen, N.J. and J. P. Meyer (1990), ‘‘The Measurement and Antecedents of Affective, Continuance and Normative Commitment’’, Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63, 1- 18.
• Avey, J. B., B. Avolio, C. Crossley and F. Luthans (2009), ‘‘Psychological Ownership: Theoretical Extensions, Measurement, and Relation to Work Outcomes’’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30, 173-191.
• Barki, H., G. Pare, C. Sicotte (2008), ‘‘Linking IT Implementation and Acceptance via the Construct of Psychological Ownership of Information Technology’’, Journal of Information Technology, 23, 269-280.
• Baron, R. and D. Kenny (1986), ‘‘The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic, and Statistical Considerations’’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 6, 1173- 1183.
• Bernhard, F., M. P. O’Driscoll (2011), ‘‘Psychological Ownership in Small Family-Owned Businesses: Leadership Style and Nonfamily-Employees’ Work Attitudes and Behaviors’’, Group&Organization Management, 36, 3, 345-384.
• Blau, I., A. Caspi (2009), ‘What Type of Collaboration Helps? Psychological Ownership, Perceived Learning and Outcome Quality of Collaboration Using Google Docs, Proceedings of the Chais Conference on Instructional Technologies Research: Learning in the Technological Area.
• Gautam, T., R.Van Dick ve U. Wagner (2004), ‘‘Organizational Identification and Organizational Commitment: Distinct Aspects of Two Related Concepts’’, Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 7, 301-315.
• Iverson, R. D., and D. Buttigieg, (1999), ‘‘Affective, Normative, and Continuance Commitment: Can The Right Kind of Commitment Can Be Managed?’’, Journal of Management Studies, 36, 3, 307-333.
• Kell, H. J., S. J. Motowidlo (2012), ‘‘Deconstructing Organizational Commitment: Associations Among its Affective and Cognitive Components, Personality Antecedents, and Behavioral Outcomes’’, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42, 1, 213-251.
• Kormanik, M. B., T. S. Rocco (2009), ‘‘Internal Versus External Control of Reinforcement: A Review of the Locus of Control Construct’’, Human Resource Development Review, 8, 4, 463-483.
• Mayhew, M.G., N. M. Ashkanasy, T. Bramble, J. Gardner (2007), ‘‘A Study of Antecedents and Consequences of Psychological Ownership in Organizational Settings’’, The Journal of Social Psychology, 147, 5, 477-500.
• McIntyre, N., A. Srivastava, J. A. Fuller (2009), ‘‘The Relationship of Locus of Control and Motives with Psychological Ownership in Organizations’’, Journal of Managerial Issues, 21, 3, 383-401.
• Mowday, D.E., R. M. Steers and L. W. Porter (1979), ‘‘The Measurement of Organizational Commitment’’, Journal of Vocational Behavior, 14, 223-247.
• Ng, T. W. H., K. L. Sorenson and L. T. Eby (2006), ‘‘Locus of Control at Work: A Meta-Analysis’’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 27, 1057-1087.
• Oliver, J. E., P.E. Jose and P. Brough (2006), ‘‘Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Work Locus of Control Scale’’, Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66, 5, 835-851.
• Ozler, H., A. Yilmaz, D. Ozler (2008), ‘‘Psychological Ownership: An Empirical Study on Its Antecedents and Impacts Upon Organizational Behaviors’’, Problems and Perspectives in Management, 6, 3, 38-47. Pierce, J.L., T. Kostova, K. T. Dirks (2001), ‘‘Toward a Theory of Psychological Ownership in Organizations’’, Academy of Management Review, 26, 2, 298-310.
• Pierce, J. L. , I. Jussila and A. Cummings (2009), ‘‘Psychological Ownership within The Job Design Context: Revision of The Job Characteristics Model’’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30, 477-496.
• Rotter, J. B. (1966), ‘‘Generalized Expectancies for Internal vs. External Control of Reinforcement’’, Psychological Monographs, 80, 1-28.
• Srivastava, S. (2009), ‘‘Locus of Control as a Moderator for Relationship between Organizational Role Stress and Managerial Effectiveness’’, The Journal of Business Perspective, 13, 49-61.
• Van Dyne, L. and J. L. Pierce (2004), ‘‘Psychological Ownership and Feelings of Possession: Three Field Studies Predicting Employee Attitudes and Organizational Citizenship Behavior’’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25, 436-459.
• Van Knippenberg, D. and E. Sleebos (2006), ‘‘Organizational Identification versus Organizational Commitment: Self-definition, Social Exchange and Job Attitudes’’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 27, 571-584.
• Vandewalle, D., L. Vandyne and T. Kostova (1995), ‘‘Psychological Ownership: An Empirical Examination of Its Consequences’’, Group and Organization Studies, 20, 2, 210-226.